A University of Queensland student who inadvertently ingested rat poison while on exchange in Taiwan has arrived on Australian soil.
Alex Shorey, 24, from Toowoomba in southern Queensland had been in Taipei Medical University hospital since April 18 after consuming the rat poison superwarfarin about a month ago.
Mr Shorey had anaphylactic reactions to the vitamin K and plasma treatments he had been on and his family wanted him brought back to Australia to be treated by specialist toxicologists.
The 24-year-old landed in Darwin on a Cessna Citation jet this afternoon after his family raised more than $200,000 for a chartered medical flight.
It is expected he will be flown to a Queensland hospital for further medical treatment.
Queensland Health has told the ABC the Princess Alexandra Hospital had been consulted regarding the case.
Mr Shorey's aunt, Lizzy Shorey-Kitson, said the family was happy to have Alex back in Australia "where his treatment can continue nearby family and friends".
"It's been another bumpy few days but we're extremely grateful to the medical rescue team and to the Taipei University Medical hospital for all they've done to help us navigate Alex's health journey at this very difficult time," she told the ABC.
"And of course to the generosity of all those who have sent messages of support, shared our story and contributed [to the fundraising effort].
"It's thanks to our wonderful community that we were able to bring Alex home where his health journey can continue."
Sunshine Coast's Machjet International has been responsible for flying Mr Shorey home.
Managing director Simon McDermott said there were logistical challenges to ensure there were no delays in Mr Shorey's journey home.
"We've had to use three pilots and basically swap them out at different areas," he said.
"Basically, leave one pilot in Darwin and then fly through and then vice versa on the way back."
Medical evacuation process
Mr McDermott said the process to medically evacuate Australian citizens usually needed days of preparation.
"The first step is for us to actually get acknowledgement from all the countries we're going to be going to and flight approvals," he said.
"That generally is carried out over a two- or three-day process."
Ms Shorey-Kitson said the flight was at a lower altitude to ensure no further medical complications and to support Mr Shorey's respiratory system.
Mr Shorey had been in Taipei on exchange studying Mandarin as part of his languages and marketing degree.
He had finished the exchange when he inadvertently ingested the poison.
Mr Shorey's father, Toowoomba-based GP Stephen Shorey, said it was a mystery how his son ingested the poison, but it was possibly through food.
"All we really know is that he was enjoying his time as a tourist and travelling around the countryside," he told the ABC from Taipei on Saturday.
"There was a delay between when he was out in the country and first alerted us to the symptoms, which was the end of March.
"But some of these agents can be absorbed through the skin as well, so it's difficult to say 100 per cent."
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the University of Queensland have been providing support to Mr Shorey and his family.
